Pending Legislation

I apologize for the delay between posts but I left for Austin at the beginning of last week at a moments notice. If you haven't heard yet, testimonies for and against the bills HB 75, HB 1139, and HB 2084 were heard by the Health and Human Services Committee in Austin last week.

Here is a synopses of each bill:

HB 75/SB 237 would legalize the sale of raw dairy products by licensed farmers directly to consumers at farmers markets and farm stands, and allow farmers and consumers to agree to delivery arrangements. Raw milk will still not be available in grocery stores.

This bill provides convenience to families that currently drive long distances to buy raw milk at the farm. It will also benefit local economies by giving farmers access to more customers who might not be willing or have the time to drive long distances to the farm.

HB 1139 and 2084 would allow small scale producers to sell low risk foods without having to have a commercial kitchen license. This would include baked goods, jams, jellies, vinegars, candy, and dried herbs. Start-up businesses would then be able to avoid expensive licensing fees which can be prohibiting. This bill too will benefit local economy.

And my favorite line from Judith McGreary of Farm and Ranch Freedon Alliance(FARFA), "Direct-to-consumer transactions provide greater transparency and accountability than could ever be achieved by government regulation."

Well said.

Although I received short notice about the committee hearing I was able to pack up the kids and leave town within a few hours. Once the baby was in the able care of grandparents,  my six year old accompanied me to Austin to see up close how our government works. We arrived early enough to do some site seeing around the capitol and then we changed into more appropriate clothes and less comfortable shoes to await the committee hearing.

We met up with several others from FARFA and decided to seek out our own representatives who where all in session at that time. Just then my cell phone rang and to my surprise my representative was on the other end. A little bird sent him a  text letting him know I would be in Austin to testify and although we have never met he graciously welcomed my daughter and I to the capitol and invited us onto the floor to watch the action. I quizzed his assistant a bit as she escorted us to him and she stated several times how lucky she was to be assigned to him. From her account he is a wonderful geuine man to work for that lets his priority to God guide every decision. Later when we all gathered back together I realized that not everyone had the red carpet rolled out for them by their representative. And that's putting it nicely. And best of all our representative is pro farmer and pro local foods!

 My daughter and I with Representative Brian Hughes

Committee hearings were suppose to start at 4 but the representatives did not get out of session until 8pm and it was not until 11pm that I was called to testify.

The testimonies were interesting and so were the people giving them who I got to know throughout my 11 hour day at the capitol (I switched to my professional uncomfortable shoes way too early in the day!). There were 2 or 3 different dairies represented who once had been conventional dairies and now have switched over to grass-fed raw milk dairies. One of the dairies was owned by 2 veterinarians adding to the validity and power of their statements. This group was able to testify first hand to the difference in the quality of the milk and the health of the cows after switching to a grass fed dairy in preparation for selling raw milk.

Several others testified to severe allergies to pasteurized milk but not raw milk. After hearing this I scratched what I had written to say and spoke about the science behind the allergies and how the milk is changed during pasteurization so that the representatives would not think these few stories were anecdotal.

And we all testified about how difficult it is to drive several hours to pick up milk. I cannot tell you how many people I know that would love to get raw milk but are not willing to put forth the effort. They are however willing to pick it up at the local farmers market once a week. I know this because they already shop there for fresh produce. Thus the farmer has the ability to increase sales and more of the general population has assess to real food (if the bill passes). And this is how I think this bill will play out for the most part. I can think of only one dairy in our are who has a refrigerated truck to deliver the milk to our homes. A refrigerated truck would be too large of an investment for most small dairies. But the farmers market and road side stands would provide a great outlet.

I could not stay for the rebuttal by those who opposed the bill. By the time I testified my 6 year old was asleep in my lap and it was close to midnight when we left the capitol.

When I do get an update I will be sure to pass it along to you guys. And if you are in Texas BE SURE TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!!!! They want to know what your thoughts and position on these matters!